1997 Pontiac Grand Am SE Not sure from North America

Summary:

This gorgeous car became my worst nightmare

Faults:

Recurrent, mysterious wiring problems. The door locks will stop working, then the interior dashboard lights, then the turn signals. This has been repaired four times now, and usually after a few months it starts again.

The last time, the dealer found 13 different wires under the driver's side carpeting that needed to be spliced back together. Apparently, every time I braked, it put pressure on the wires and they were cracking. The dealer actually called it an "accident waiting to happen" and said I was lucky that none of those 13 wires were for the engine or the brakes.

At one point, the alternator blew out, causing the car to stop-start-stop-start in panicky jerks while every single light on the dash was flickering on and off. I'm glad I was close to home, because I almost wrecked. Turns out the alternator fried the battery and I had to replace them both.

None of my power windows work and it's going to be $500 to fix.

The radio was replaced before I got the car.

This car is a constant drain on my finances, not to mention my nerves.

General Comments:

When this car actually runs, it's a dream. It's my first car and I hate to give up my "baby". But this is ridiculous.

3rd Jun 2003, 14:30

I hate my Grand-Am! I always wanted one and I am so disappointed. I had to replace the alternator, the starter, and the battery. It doesn't have power windows or anything, but the dashboard lights always go off or get really dim. I thought I was the only one with all these problems. I almost put as much money into it than I paid for it.

5th Jun 2003, 10:49

If your dashboard lights are flickering, you might need to take it to the dealer. That was the first warning I had that some of the wires were shredding up. (The next was when my turn signals and brake lights both went.)

I tried taking it to a few mechanics and they charged me plenty, but it wasn't until I took it to the dealer that they actually fixed it. I hate taking it to the dealer because they always seem to charge more, but in this case I had to.

Tell them to check underneath the driver's side carpeting and see if you have broken wires there.

I am trading in this hunk of junk before more things manage to go wrong with it.

20th Aug 2003, 09:20

The power windows stopped working numerous times which had to be repaired. As well as the battery has been changed 4 times. There is 76,000 miles on the car. The lights do dim in and out on occasion and the water pump went at 68,000 miles. I was told that the timing chain should be replaced because of how it is neccessary to repair water pump. Here I am 6,000 miles later and timing chain has fallen off damaging valves and piston and now am told it needs new engine. Is this just a bad car or bad mechanic? Had towed to driveway until I deceide what to do.

1997 Pontiac Grand Am GT 2.4L Twin Cam from North America

Summary:

A great car for looks, but don't drive it far

Faults:

This car has had many serious problems, starting with the ABS. In bad weather (rain, snow, ice) etc. the ABS light comes on and the system shuts down, and when you go to brake with the car it kicks in all of a sudden when least expected and causes you to spin the car.

The fiberglass on the rear of the car is pulling off.

The mirror cable keeps falling in the door.

The left doors window track for the automatic windows is broke.

The window falls in the door.

The car shakes like hell doing 65-0 stopping.

I've had a new battery, new rotors, cv-joints, control arm bushings, and the car has a recall with a starter problem (it blows up). The dealer failed to mention that or fix it for that manner.

General Comments:

This car needs to seriously be looked over and completely rebuilt. I'm disappointed, the 86 Grand Am with the quad 4 did not have this much trouble.